I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative

Instructions for Petition to Classify Orphan
as an Immediate Relative
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS
Form I-600

OMB No. 1615-0028
Expires 02/28/2026

What Is the Purpose of Form I-600?
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses the information provided on Form I-600, Petition to Classify
Orphan as an Immediate Relative, to determine whether a child who has been or will be adopted by a U.S. citizen (and
spouse, if married) can be classified as an orphan for an immediate relative immigrant visa.

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Who May File Form I-600?

If you are a U.S. citizen, you (and your spouse, if married) may file Form I-600 for an unmarried child if:

1. You file the Form I-600 before the child’s 16th birthday (or before the child’s 18th birthday in some cases, as
discussed in these Instructions);
2. The child’s adoption is not governed by the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect
of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention);
3. The child qualifies as an orphan, as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 101(b)(1)(F); and
4. You (and your spouse, if married) either:

A. Have adopted the child outside the United States and the adoption order is final; or

B. Have obtained legal custody of the child for emigration and adoption in the United States and will adopt the child
in the United States after the child enters the country with a visa.
To qualify as an adoption for immigration purposes, the adoption must, according to the laws where it takes place,
establish a permanent legal parent-child relationship between the child and you (and your spouse, if married), as well as
terminate the legal parent-child relationship between the child and any former parent(s).
If you do not have a final adoption, you may still be eligible to file this petition if you have legal custody of the child for
the purposes of emigration and adoption. For example a guardianship order, foster parent appointment, or other custody
order may be sufficient if it permits you to take the child out of the country for the purpose of finalizing the adoption in the
United States or in another country.

Who May Not File Form I-600?
If the child is already in the United States, you may not file Form I-600 unless that child is a parolee and has not
been adopted in the United States.
If the child does not qualify as an orphan under INA section 101(b)(1)(F), you cannot file Form I-600. However, the child
may qualify as an immediate relative under INA section 101(b)(1)(E) and you may be able to file Form I-130, Petition for
Alien Relative. See Form I-130 and its Instructions for additional information about this alternative.
If the child’s adoption is governed by the Hague Adoption Convention, you generally cannot file Form I-600 for the child.
If you seek to adopt a child who is a habitual resident in a country that is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention,
or you have already adopted a child on or after the date the child’s country became a party to the Hague Adoption
Convention, you should generally file Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a
Convention Country, and Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative.

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There are three exceptions. You may be able to file Form I-600 if:
1. You (and your spouse, if married) were not yet U.S. citizens when you adopted the child, but the petitioner is a U.S.
citizen at the time of filing Form I-600;
2. The child’s adoption is not governed by the Hague Adoption Convention, even though it occurred after the Hague
Adoption Convention entered into force. For example, the case meets requirements agreed upon by the United States
and the child’s country of origin to proceed as a non-Convention case during a country’s transition to the Hague
process; or
3. The child’s adoption is not governed by the Hague Adoption Convention because it occurred before the Hague
Adoption Convention entered into force in the child’s country of origin. For additional information, see the
adoption-related pages on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/adoption and the Department of State’s website at
www.state.gov/family-law/.

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NOTE: If you are filing under one of these exceptions, you should include evidence that you qualify for the exception
with your Form I-600.
For a list of Hague Adoption Convention countries and the dates the Hague Adoption Convention became effective for
each country, see the Status Table on the website of The Hague Conference on Private International Law at
https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=60.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
1. Eligibility requirements for a child.

Under INA section 101(b)(1)(F), an orphan is a child who has:

A. No parents because of the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or separation or loss from both
parents; or
B. A sole or surviving parent who is incapable of providing the child with proper care and has, in writing, irrevocably
released the child for emigration and adoption.
Specific age requirements apply. Even if you have not yet completed the adoption or obtained all of the required
supporting documentation, you MUST file Form I-600 before the child turns 16 years of age unless one of the
following exceptions applies:
A. Sibling Exception. You may file Form I-600 after the child’s 16th birthday, but before the child’s 18th birthday,
only if the child is the birth sibling of another foreign born child (“other sibling”) who has immigrated (or will
immigrate) based on an adoption by the same adoptive parent(s). If the other sibling immigrates as an orphan,
then the Form I-600 for the other sibling must have been filed before that sibling’s 16th birthday. If the other
sibling immigrates as an adopted child under INA 101(b)(1)(E), rather than as an orphan, the actual adoption must
have occurred before that sibling’s 16th birthday; or
B. Form I-600A Filed When a Child is 15 Years of Age. If you have filed Form I-600A, USCIS will deem the
Form I-600A filing date to be the Form I-600 filing date if:
(1) You filed Form I-600A after the child’s 15th birthday, but before the child’s 16th birthday (or, if applicable for
a birth sibling, after the child’s 17th birthday, but before the child’s 18th birthday); AND
(2) You filed Form I-600 no more than 180 days after the initial approval of Form I-600A.
2. Eligibility requirements for parents.
You must be a U.S. citizen to file Form I-600.
If you are married, your spouse does not need to be a U.S. citizen. However, if your spouse lives in the United States,
you must submit proof that your spouse is living in the United States lawfully as a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful
permanent resident, or in another lawful immigration status.
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If you are unmarried, you must be at least 25 years of age to file Form I-600.
3. Eligibility requirements for adoption abroad - child adopted by both parents and seen in person by at least one
adoptive parent.
If the child was adopted abroad, you must establish that either you or your spouse (if married) personally saw and
observed the child before or during the adoption proceedings in order for the adoption to be considered full and final.
If you are married, you and your spouse do not both need to have personally seen and observed the child. However,
the adoption decree must show that you and your spouse adopted the child jointly.
If you previously filed Form I-600A and your responses on this petition differ from the responses provided on your
Form I-600A, USCIS may request additional information regarding the responses.

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4. Eligibility requirements for adoption abroad - child not seen by at least one parent or not adopted by both
parents.
If the child was adopted abroad, but neither you nor your spouse (if married) personally saw and observed the child
before or during the adoption proceedings, the child will be considered to be coming to the United States for adoption.
You will then need to either adopt the child anew in your state of residence or take whatever steps may be required by
your state of residence to recognize the foreign adoption.
Also, if you are married and you and your spouse did not jointly adopt the child abroad, the child will be considered to
be coming to the United States for adoption, and the spouse who did not adopt abroad will need to adopt the child in
the United States.
5. Pre-adoption eligibility requirements when a child is coming to the United States for adoption.

If the child has not been adopted abroad (for example, you only obtained legal custody or guardianship for emigration
and adoption in the United States), or if the child will be considered to be coming to the United States for adoption,
you and your spouse (if married) must establish that:
A. You and your spouse will adopt the child in the United States; and

B. Any pre-adoption requirements of the state of the orphan’s proposed residence in the United States have been met
or will be met at a later time.

Combination Form I-600 Filing

In some situations, you can file your Form I-600 petition on behalf of a specific child together with the supporting
documents for Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, to request that USCIS decide
your suitability and eligibility to adopt at the same time as the child’s eligibility. This is referred to as combination filing.
You do not need to file a separate Form I‑600A in this situation.
You may use this combination filing option if you:
1. Have not previously filed Form I-600A, but you have finalized an adoption or obtained legal custody of a child;
2. Have identified a child you would like to adopt and your previously approved Form I-600A expired before you filed a
Form I-600 petition; or
3. Previously filed Form I-600A, but your marital status changed after the Form I-600A was approved, and you have
finalized an adoption or obtained legal custody of a child.

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General Instructions
We provide free forms through the USCIS website. To view, print, or complete our forms, you should use the latest
version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you do not have internet
access, you may call the USCIS Contact Center and ask that we mail a form to you.
Signature. You (or your signing authority) must properly complete your petition. USCIS will not accept a stamped or
typewritten name in place of a signature on each petition. A legal guardian may sign for a mentally incompetent person.
If your petition is not signed, or if the signature is not valid, we will reject your petition. See 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7)(ii)(A). If
USCIS accepts a request for adjudication and determines that it has a deficient signature, USCIS will deny the request.

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Validity of Signatures. USCIS will consider a photocopied, faxed, or scanned copy of an original handwritten signature
as valid for filing purposes. The photocopy, fax, or scan must be of the original document containing the handwritten ink
signature.
Filing Fee. See Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, available at www.uscis.gov/forms, for information on all filing fees.
Evidence. When you file your petition, you must submit all evidence and supporting documents listed in the Initial
Evidence section of these Instructions.
Biometric Services Appointment. USCIS may require you, your spouse (if married), or any adult member of your
household to appear for an interview or provide biometrics (fingerprints, photograph, and/or signature) at any time to
verify identity, obtain additional information, and conduct background and security checks, including a check of criminal
history records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), before making a decision on your application or
petition.
If we determine that a biometric services appointment is necessary, we will send you a notice with the date, time, and
location of your appointment. If you are currently overseas, your notice will instruct you to contact a U.S. Embassy, U.S.
Consulate, or USCIS office outside the United States to schedule an appointment.
At your biometrics appointment, you must sign an oath reaffirming that:
1. You provided or authorized all information in the petition;

2. You reviewed and understood all of the information contained in, and submitted with, your petition; and
3. All of this information was complete, true, and correct at the time of filing.

If you do not attend your biometric services appointment, we may deny your petition.

NOTE: If we determine a biometric services appointment is necessary for your spouse, or any adult member of your
household, they would receive a similar notice.
Disability Accommodations/Modifications. To request a disability accommodation/modification, follow the instructions
on your appointment notice or at uscis.gov/accommodationsinfo.
Copies. You should submit legible photocopies of requested documents unless the Instructions specifically instruct you to
submit an original document. USCIS may request an original document at any time during our process. If we request an
original document from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it no longer needs the original.
NOTE: If you submit original documents when they are not required or requested, USCIS may destroy them after we
receive them.
Translations. If you submit a document with information in a foreign language, you must also submit a full English
translation. The translator must sign a certification that the English language translation is complete and accurate, and that
they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English. The certification must also include their signature,
printed name, the signature date, and their contact information.

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USCIS Contact Center. For additional information on the form and Instructions about where to file, change of
address, and other questions, visit the USCIS Contact Center at www.uscis.gov/contactcenter or call at 800-3755283 (TTY 800-767-1833). If you are calling from outside the U.S., call 1-212-620-3418. The USCIS Contact Center
provides information in English and Spanish.
Affidavits. If a required document cannot be obtained, you must submit a written statement from the governmental agency
that should have the record, verifying that the record does not exist. Only then may you submit written affidavits sworn to
or affirmed by two persons who were living at the time and who have personal knowledge of the event and circumstances
you are trying to prove. Each affidavit must contain the affiant’s full name, address, date and place of birth, and signature.
The affidavit must provide full information concerning the event and complete details of how the affiant acquired the
information.

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How To Complete Form I-600

1. Type or print legibly in black ink.

2. If you need extra space to complete any item within this petition, use the space provided in Part 12. Additional
Information or attach a separate sheet of paper. Type or print your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number)
(if any) at the top of each sheet; indicate the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which your answer
refers; and sign and date each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. If a question does not apply to you (for example, if you have never been
married and the question asks, “Provide the name of your current spouse”), type or print “N/A” unless otherwise
directed. If your answer to a question which requires a numeric response is zero or none (for example, “How many
children do you have” or “How many times have you departed the United States”), type or print “None” unless
otherwise directed.
4. USCIS Online Account Number. You will only have a USCIS Online Account Number (OAN) if you previously
filed a form that has a receipt number that begins with IOE. If you filed the form online, you can find your OAN in
your account profile. If you mailed us the form, you can find your OAN at the top of the Account Access Notice we
sent you. If you do not have a receipt number that begins with IOE, you do not have an OAN. The OAN is not the
same as an A-Number.
5. Part 4. Information About Your Home Study and Primary Adoption Service Provider. Select only one box in
Item Numbers 1.a. - 1.d., depending on the status of your home study:
Item Number 1.a. If you previously submitted your home study with your approved and valid Form I-600A,
then select Item Number 1.a. and submit a copy of your Form I-600A approval notice
Item Number 1.b. If you previously submitted your home study, but your Form I-600A is still pending, then
select Item B. and submit a copy of your Form I-600A receipt notice;
Item Number 1.c. If you previously submitted your home study with Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3, then
select Item C. and submit a copy of your Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 receipt notice.
Item Number 1.d. If you did not file Form I-600A or filed Form I-600A without your home study, then select
Item Number 1.d. and submit your home study; or
Item Number 1.e. If you are unable to submit your home study because your state of residence must review and
forward your home study directly to USCIS, then select Item Number 1.e., but do not file your Form I-600 until
your state authority is ready to send your home study to USCIS.
NOTE: If you do not have your home study yet because your state authority must review and approve it, but will
forward it to you (as opposed to USCIS directly), then do not file your Form I-600 until you have received your
home study from your state authority. When you have received your home study, select Item Number 1.d. and submit
your home study with your petition.

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6. Part 6. Request for Exemption for Orphan Beneficiary’s Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the
INA. Select the appropriate Item Number to indicate if you will submit an Affidavit of Support Under Section
213A of the INA (Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ) with any visa application to the U.S. Department of State (DOS)
(see www.travel.state.gov), or if you are requesting an exemption.
Item Number 1.a. Select Item Number 1.a. if the orphan beneficiary can receive credit for 40 qualifying quarters
(credits) of work that you or the other petitioning parent (if married) in the United States have earned (as defined by
the Social Security Act (SSA)). You will need to submit your SSA earnings statements with any visa application you
submit with DOS. Do not count any quarters for which a means-tested public benefit was received.
Item Number 1.b. Select Item Number 1.b. if the orphan beneficiary is unlikely to become a public charge and
will automatically acquire U.S. citizenship under INA section 320 upon admission to the United States as a lawful
permanent resident (LPR). For this to apply, at the time of admission as an LPR, the child must:

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•

Be under 18 years of age and unmarried;

•

Be the child of a U.S. citizen;

•

Have a final adoption. For an adoption to be considered final, you (and your spouse, if married) must adopt
the child (versus obtaining legal custody for emigration and adoption), and at least one adoptive parent must
personally see and observe the child before or during the adoption proceedings; and

•

Reside in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent after having been lawfully
admitted for permanent residence.

NOTE: This requirement may be deemed satisfied for certain children of U.S. service members or U.S. Government
employees (or their spouses) who reside outside of the United States. See the USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12,
Part H, Children of U.S. Citizens, Chapter 4, Automatic Acquisition of Citizenship after Birth (INA section 320) at
https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-h-chapter-4).
Item Number 2. Select Item Number 2. if you do not meet one of the above exemptions, and you will need to submit
an Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA (Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ), with any visa application you
submit to DOS.
7. Part 8. Petitioner’s Certification, Duty of Disclosure, and Signature. You must sign and date your petition and, if
applicable, provide your daytime telephone number, mobile telephone number, and email address. Additionally, under
8 CFR 204.311(d), you, your spouse (if married), and any adult member of your household have an ongoing duty of
disclosure throughout the adoption process. (See the Duty of Disclosure section for specific information.) A stamped
or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable.
8. Part 9. Your Spouse’s Certification, Duty of Disclosure, and Signature. You must sign and date your petition and,
if applicable, provide your daytime telephone number, mobile telephone number, and email address. Additionally,
under 8 CFR 204.311(d), your spouse (if married) has an ongoing duty of disclosure throughout the adoption process.
(See the Duty of Disclosure section for specific information.) A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature
is not acceptable.
9. Part 10. Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature. If you and/or your spouse (if married)
used anyone as an interpreter to read the Instructions and questions on this petition to you in a language in which you
are fluent, the interpreter must fill out this section and sign and date the petition.
10. Part 11. Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Petition, if Other Than
the Petitioner and/or Spouse. The person who completed your petition, if other than you, the petitioner and/or your
spouse (if married), must sign this section. If the same individual acted as your interpreter and your preparer, then
that person should complete both Part 10. and Part 11. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not
acceptable.

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We recommend that you review your copy of your completed petition before you go to your biometric services
appointment at a USCIS ASC. At your appointment, USCIS will allow you to complete the petition process only
if you are able to confirm, under penalty of perjury, that all of the information in your petition is complete, true, and
correct. If you are not able to make that attestation in good faith at that time, we will require you to return for another
appointment.

Form I-600A/I-600 Supplements

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Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 1, Listing of Adult Member of the Household

You must submit Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 1, Listing of Adult Member of the Household, for each adult
member of your household. For this supplement, an adult member of the household is any individual other than you and
your spouse (if married), who has the same residence as you and is 18 years of age or older on or before the date that you
file Form I-600A or Form I-600. An adult member of the household is considered to have the same residence as you if
they actually live with you. It does not matter if they intend to reside with you for a short term or long term.
USCIS may request that you submit Supplement 1 for any household member who has not yet turned 18 years of age
before you file Form I-600A or Form I-600, or who does not actually live with you but whose presence USCIS deems
relevant to whether you and your spouse (if married) are suitable and eligible to adopt.
Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 2, Consent to Disclose Information

If you want to give consent for USCIS to disclose information about your case to your primary adoption service provider,
home study preparer, or any other individual or entity (other than your attorney or accredited representative), you should
complete Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 2. You are not required to give this consent in order to file Form I-600.
Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3, Request for Action on Approved Form I-600A/I-600

You must file Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 if you would like to request action, such as:
•

An extension or updated suitability determination, on your approved and valid Form I-600A; or

•

An updated suitability determination on your approved Form I-600 (combination filing).

Once you file Form I-600, you are not required to keep any underlying Form I-600A approval valid, but you may do so if
you wish.
If your Form I-600A approval is still valid, you must use Form I-600A/Form I-600, Supplement 3, regardless of
whether you have filed Form I-600, to request any of the following:
1. A first extension of your approved Form I-600A;
2. A second or subsequent extension of your approved Form I-600A;
3. A new approval notice based on a significant change or change in the number of children or characteristics (such as
age, gender, and/or special needs) of the child or children you intend to adopt after your Form I-600A or Form I-600
was approved;
4. A first change to a new non-Hague Adoption Convention country;
5. A second or subsequent change to a new non-Hague Adoption Convention country; or
6. A duplicate approval notice.
You must submit an updated home study if there are any changes or if you are requesting an extension.
Your Form I-600A approval notice indicates the date your approval expires. If you are filing Supplement 3 to obtain an
extension of your approved Form I-600A, you must do so before your approval expires, but no more than 90 days before
its expiration.
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NOTE: You may not use Supplement 3 to extend eligibility to process your case as a Hague Adoption Convention
transition case beyond your first extension. Generally, you may not use Supplement 3 to increase the number of children
you wish to adopt from a transition country. However, unless prohibited by the new Convention country, USCIS will
permit prospective adoptive parent(s) to request an updated Form I-600A approval notice to increase the number of
children they are approved to adopt as a transition case only to pursue the adoption of a birth sibling, provided the birth
sibling(s) is (are) identified and the Form I-600 petition is filed before the Form I-600A approval expires. You may not use
Supplement 3 to change to a transition country if you have already designated a country. See the adoption-related pages on
the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/adoption for information on filing limitations in transition cases.

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Initial Evidence

Unless otherwise stated, you must submit the following supporting documentation with your Form I-600:

If you are seeking to file Form I-600 for a child that is 15 years of age, see the What Are the Eligibility Requirements
section of these Instructions.
1. Proof of Petitioner’s U.S. Citizenship

If you previously submitted proof of your U.S. citizenship with your pending or approved and valid Form I-600A, you
do not need to submit it again unless USCIS requests it. Otherwise, please submit the evidence listed below.
A. If you were born in the U.S., you must submit a copy of your birth certificate issued by a civil registrar, vital
statistics office, or other civil authority. If your birth certificate is not available, submit a statement from the
appropriate civil authority certifying that your birth certificate is not available and secondary evidence, such as:
(1) Religious records bearing the seal of the organization showing the baptism, dedication, or comparable rite
occurred within two months after your birth and showing the date and place of your birth, date of the religious
ceremony, and the names of your parents;
(2) School records issued by the authority (preferably the first school you attended) showing the date of your
admission to the school, your age at the time, and your parents’ names and places of birth;
(3) Census records (state or Federal) showing your name, place of birth, and date of birth or age;
(4) Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by persons who were living at the time of your birth and who have personal
knowledge of your date and place of birth in the United States. Affidavits should contain the following
information about each person making the affidavit: his or her full name, address, date and place of birth,
relationship to you, full information concerning the event, and complete details on how he or she acquired
knowledge of your birth; or
(5) An unexpired U.S. passport issued with 10 years of validity.
B. If you were born outside the United States, submit a copy of one of the following:
(1) Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship issued by USCIS or the former Immigration and
Naturalization Service (INS);
(2) Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States, issued by a U.S. Embassy or U.S.
Consulate;
(3) An unexpired U.S. passport issued with 10 years of validity; or
(4) A written statement from a U.S. consular officer verifying your U.S. citizenship with an unexpired passport.

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NOTE: If you are married and your spouse lives in the United States, you must submit proof that your spouse is
living in the United States lawfully. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or non-citizen U.S. national, you must submit
the evidence listed above as proof of your spouse’s U.S. citizenship or non-citizen U.S. national status. If your
spouse is a foreign national who is residing in the United States, submit proof of your spouse’s lawful immigration
status, such as a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card); Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record; a copy of the
biographic pages of your spouse’s passport and his or her nonimmigrant visa pages showing an admission stamp;
or any other Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-issued document.
2. Proof of Marriage of Petitioner and Spouse (if applicable)
If you are married, you must submit a copy of your marriage certificate. If you or your spouse were previously
married, you must also submit proof of termination of any prior marriages. However, if you previously submitted any
of this evidence with a pending or approved and valid Form I-600A, you do not need to submit it again unless USCIS
requests it.

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If any change occurs in your marital status while your petition is pending, immediately notify the USCIS office or the
government entity that USCIS designates as having jurisdiction over your case. See the Home Study Updates section
of these Instructions below for more details on changes in marital status.
3. Proof of Orphan’s Age and Identity

Submit a copy of the orphan’s birth certificate, or if such a certificate is not available, an explanation together with
other proof of age and identity. Secondary evidence can include medical records, school records, religious records,
entry in a family Bible, orphanage intake sheets, or affidavits from individuals with first-hand knowledge of the
event(s) to which they are testifying. If there is doubt that the child is the birth child of his or her purported birth
parent, USCIS may allow you to submit DNA evidence to establish the claimed relationship.
4. Copies of Death Certificates of Child’s Parents (if applicable)

5. Certified Copy of Adoption or Custody Decree and Certified Translation (if applicable)

Some orphan countries follow the Pre-Adoption Immigration Review (PAIR) process. In such countries, you must
file Form I-600 and obtain a PAIR letter before adopting or obtaining legal custody for emigration and adoption in the
United States. For a list of such countries, see the adoption-related pages on the USCIS website at
www.uscis.gov/adoption.
6. Evidence Child is an Orphan (as defined in INA section 101(b)(1)(F) and 8 CFR 204.3(b))
You must submit evidence that:

A. The child’s birth mother is a sole parent who is incapable of providing proper care for the child and has in writing
irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption. A birth father of an orphan cannot be classified as a
sole parent under 8 CFR 204.3(b);
B. One of the child’s birth parents is deceased, and the surviving parent is incapable of providing proper care for the
child and has in writing irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption; or
C. The child has no legal parents due to the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or separation
or loss from both parents. These terms are defined in 8 CFR 204.3(b) and indicate what must be established for
each of these situations to apply. It is not necessary to establish that each parent is absent for the same reason. For
example, if one parent has disappeared and the other parent has abandoned the child, the child may qualify as an
orphan.
Before USCIS, or the government entity that USCIS designates, can make a final decision on your petition, an
officer must complete an internal document called Form I-604, Determination on Child for Adoption, also known
as an orphan determination. USCIS, or the government entity that USCIS designates, must complete an orphan
determination as part of every orphan adoption case to verify that the child is an orphan under U.S. immigration
law.

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7. Proof of Compliance with Preadoption Requirements (if any)
If the child will be coming to the United States for adoption, you must provide evidence that any pre-adoption
requirements of the state where the child will live have been met or will be met. If you cannot submit this evidence
when you initially file your petition due to state law requirements, you may submit this evidence later. However,
USCIS will not approve your Form I-600 for a specific child without this evidence.
8. Home Study
If you previously submitted your home study to USCIS with your pending or approved and valid Form I-600A or
Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3, you do not need to resubmit a copy of it with your Form I-600. However, you
must submit a home study with your Form I-600 if you did not previously submit it with your Form I-600A or
Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3, or if you are requesting a suitability and eligibility determination as part of
Form I-600. The only exception to this requirement is if you live in a state where an appropriate state authority must
review and approve your home study and submit it directly to USCIS. In all cases, your home study must not be more
than six months old when it is submitted to USCIS. If it is more than six months old, you must include an update that
is not more than six months old.

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You must submit a home study prepared according to the requirements specified in 8 CFR 204.311 by a person who is
authorized under 22 CFR 96 to prepare the home study.
A home study preparer is an individual or agency authorized to conduct home studies, as a public domestic
authority, a public foreign authority, an accredited agency, approved person, supervised provider, or exempted
provider (see 8 CFR 204.301). The home study preparer (other than a public domestic authority or a public foreign
authority) must hold any license or other authorization that is required to conduct adoption home studies under the law
of the jurisdiction where the home study is prepared. The home study preparer (or, if the home study is prepared by an
entity, the officer or employee who has authority to sign the home study for the entity) must also personally sign your
home study and any updated home study under penalty of perjury under U.S. law.
If your case meets certain criteria, your home study may be required to meet some different requirements than those
described above. For more information, see the information on the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act
of 2012 on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/adoption.
If your home study was not conducted by an accredited agency, an accredited agency must review and approve the
home study before you submit it to USCIS. This requirement does not apply to a home study that was conducted by
a public domestic authority or a public foreign authority. A public domestic authority means an authority operated
by a state, local, or tribal government within the United States. A public foreign authority means an authority
operated by a national or subnational government of a foreign country. Although a reviewer is not required, a home
study conducted by a public foreign authority or public domestic authority must still comply with the requirements
specified in 8 CFR 204.311.

Home Study Requirements
For a complete description of the requirements for a home study, see 8 CFR 204.311 and 22 CFR 96. If your case meets
certain criteria, your home study may not be required to meet the requirements of 8 CFR 204.311 and 22 CFR 96. For
more information, see the information on the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 on the USCIS
website at www.uscis.gov/adoption.
Home Study Updates
There may be times during the adoption process when you will be required to obtain and provide an update of your home
study.
The following are some examples of circumstances that require a home study update:
1. If you previously filed Form I-600A, you must submit an updated home study to USCIS when you request an
extension of your Form I-600A approval.
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2. Change to a different non-Hague Convention country.
3. Change in marital status.
If your marital status changes before you complete the intercountry adoption process, you must submit a new
Form I-600A or Form I-600 combination filing with an updated home study. You may not use Form I-600A/I-600,
Supplement 3.
4. Change of residence, including a change in the child’s proposed residence. If you move to a new state in the
United States, you must meet any pre-adoption requirements of that new state if a child is coming to the United States
for adoption.
5. Significant decrease in availability of financial resources, such as loss of employment, garnishment of wages,
etc.

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6. Any change in history of arrest or criminal history of any household member regardless of age.

7. Any change in history of child abuse or neglect, substance abuse, family violence, and/or sexual abuse as an
offender, for any household member regardless of age.
8. Change in the number of and/or identity of children in your household, whether through adoption, foster care,
birth, or any other means.
9. Change in the number of and/or identity of adult members of your household. A Form I-600A/Form I-600,
Supplement 1 is required for any new adult member of the household.
10. Lapse of more than six months between the date your home study is completed and the date you submit it to
USCIS.
11. Change in the number of children or characteristics (such as age, gender, and/or special needs) of the child or
children you intend to adopt.
12. A development of a serious health condition for any household member, including but not limited to: heart
attacks, cancer, strokes, conditions requiring extensive therapy, dementia, severe injuries, etc.
Your adoption service provider can advise you on other changes that may require an updated home study.
How to File Updates to Your Home Study

The location for filing an update to your home study and the items you must include will depend on where you are in the
adoption process.
You must submit a Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 with your updated home study unless your Form I-600A or Form
I-600 combination filing is pending. If your Form I-600A or Form I-600 combination filing is pending, submit your
updated home study to the office reviewing your case; no Form I-600A/I-600 Supplement 3 is required.
USCIS will review your updated home study to determine your suitability and eligibility.

Duty of Disclosure
Under 8 CFR 204.311(d), you, your spouse (if married), and any adult member of your household have an ongoing duty
of disclosure throughout the intercountry adoption process. This duty requires you, your spouse, and any adult member of
your household to:
1. Provide true and complete information to your home study preparer;
2. Disclose other relevant information, such as physical, mental, or emotional health problems or behavioral issues;
3. Disclose any arrest, conviction, or other criminal history, whether in the United States or abroad, even if the record
of the arrest, conviction, or other criminal history was expunged, sealed, pardoned, or the subject of any other
amelioration;
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4. Disclose any history of substance abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse or neglect, and/or family violence as an offender
under 8 CFR 204.309(a)(1), even if closed or unsubstantiated; and
5. Notify your home study preparer and USCIS of any new event or information that might require you to submit an
updated home study.
With respect to child abuse or neglect, this duty of disclosure requires you to disclose any past or pending investigation by
any child welfare agency, court, or other official authority in any state or foreign country concerning the abuse or neglect
of any child even if closed or unsubstantiated.
This duty of disclosure is an ongoing duty that continues throughout the intercountry adoption process. This timeframe
includes periods while any Form I-600A is pending, after any Form I-600A is approved, while any Form I-600 is pending,
and until there is a final decision admitting the child to the United States with a visa.

WARNING

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Under 8 CFR 204.309(a), USCIS will deny this petition if you, your spouse (if married), or any adult member of your
household:
1. Conceal, misrepresent, or fail to disclose any facts to the home study preparer or USCIS about any arrest, conviction,
or history of substance abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, and/or family violence, or any other criminal history as an
offender. The fact that an arrest or conviction or other criminal history was expunged, sealed, pardoned, or the subject
of any other amelioration does not relieve you, your spouse, or any additional adult member of your household of the
obligation to disclose it;
2. Fail to cooperate in having available child abuse registries checked in accordance with 8 CFR 204.311; or
3. Fail to disclose, as required by 8 CFR 204.311, each and every prior adoption home study, whether completed or
not, including those that did not favorably recommend you, your spouse, or any adult member of your household for
adoption or custodial care.

Where To File?

Please see our website at www.uscis.gov/i-600 for the most current information about where to file this petition.

Address Change
If your address changes, you must notify the USCIS office with jurisdiction over your case. If you filed your petition
with the USCIS Lockbox, the National Benefits Center (NBC) has jurisdiction over your case. If you filed at a USCIS
international office, that office has jurisdiction over your case. Due to your change in residence, USCIS may also require
you to submit an updated home study for a significant change. If you move to a different state, you may also have to
provide updated information regarding any pre-adoption requirements.
See the adoption-related pages on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/adoption for information on significant changes
due to a change in residence and current mailing addresses for the NBC and USCIS international offices.
NOTE: Do not submit a change of address request to the USCIS Lockbox.

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Processing Information
Certification. You must fill out and sign Part 7. of Form I-600. Your spouse (if married) must fill out and sign Part 8.
USCIS will reject any Form I-600 that is not signed or accompanied by the correct fee, if any, and issue a notice
stating that your Form I-600 is deficient. You may correct the deficiency and resubmit Form I-600. A petition is not
considered properly filed until USCIS accepts it.
Initial Processing. Once USCIS accepts your petition, we will check it for completeness. If you do not properly complete
this petition, you will not establish a basis for the child’s eligibility and we may reject or deny your petition.
Requests for More Information. USCIS may request that you provide more information or evidence to support your
petition. We may also request that you provide the originals of any copies you submit. If we request an original document
from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it is no longer needed.

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Requests for Interview. We may request that you, your spouse (if married), or any adult member of your household
appear at a USCIS office for an interview based on your petition. During the interview, USCIS may require biometrics to
verify the individual’s identity and/or update background and security checks.
Decision. A decision on Form I-600 involves a determination of whether you have established that a child is an orphan
and eligible to be classified as your immediate relative for immigration purposes. If you filed Form I-600 without a
previously approved Form I-600A which remains valid, the decision will also include a determination as to whether you
are suitable and eligible to adopt. USCIS or the government entity with jurisdiction over your case will notify you of the
decision in writing.

USCIS Forms and Information

To ensure you are using the latest version of this petition, visit www.uscis.gov.

Penalties

If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material fact or submit a false document with your Form I-600, we will
deny your Form I-600 and may deny any other immigration benefit. In addition, you will face severe penalties provided
by law and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

DHS Privacy Notice
AUTHORITIES: USCIS is collecting the information requested on this petition, and the associated evidence, under INA
sections 101(b)(1)(F), 201, and 204, 8 CFR 204.3, 8 CFR 204.301, and 8 CFR 204.311.
PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested information on this petition is to determine if you have
established that a child is an orphan and eligible to be classified as your immediate relative for immigration purposes. For
petitioners who do not have a previously approved Form I-600A which remains valid, the information on your petition
will also enable USCIS to determine whether you are suitable and eligible to adopt. DHS uses the information you provide
to grant or deny the immigration benefit you are seeking.
DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information,
including your Social Security number (if applicable), and any requested evidence, may delay a final decision or result in
USCIS denying your petition.

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ROUTINE USES: DHS may, where allowable under relevant confidentiality provisions, share the information you
provide on this petition and any additional requested evidence with other Federal, state, local, and foreign government
agencies and authorized organizations. DHS follows approved routine uses described in the associated published system
of records notices [DHS/USCIS-005 - Inter-County Adoptions Security and DHS/USCIS-001 - Alien File, Index,
and National File Tracking System of Records] and published privacy impact assessments [DHS/USCIS/PIA-007(b)
Domestically Filed Intercountry Adoptions Applications and Petitions and DHS/USCIS/PIA-051 Case and Activity
Management for International Operations] which you can find at www.dhs.gov/privacy. DHS may also share this
information, as appropriate, for law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national security.
PRIVACY ACT WAIVER: Except as permitted by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a, applicable routine uses, and
information related to adult members of your household as noted in Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 1, USCIS may not
disclose or give access to any information or record relating to any petitioner, spouse (if married), or adult member of your
household to any individual or entity other than that person, including but not limited to an accredited agency, approved
person, exempted provider, supervised provider, or other adoption service provider, unless you give written consent. If
you want to give consent for USCIS to disclose information about your case to an individual or entity, you must complete
Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 2, Consent to Disclose Information. You are not required to give this consent to file Form
I-600.

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Paperwork Reduction Act

USCIS may not conduct or sponsor an information collection, and you are not required to respond to a collection
of information, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The
public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 49 minutes per response, including the time
for reviewing instructions, gathering the required documentation and information, completing the petition, preparing
statements, attaching necessary documentation, and submitting the petition. The collection of biometrics is estimated
to require 1 hour and 10 minutes. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection
of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of
Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Mail Stop #2140, Camp Springs,
MD 20588-0009; OMB No. 1615-0028. Do not mail your completed Form I-600 to this address.

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